A pair of Salem men face federal charges for trafficking counterfeit sunglasses.

Prosecutors said the men sold knock-off Oakley sunglasses over the Internet.

Details of the case became public late last week, after prosecutors charged Kirk W. Bachelder and Kevin T. McAfee. According to investigators, Bachelder and McAfee met their supplier at a trade show in Las Vegas in 2004.

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Yu Chou imported sunglasses and accessories from China. Chou, who owns Universal Novelty Trading of New York, is also being charged. Prosecutors allege the Salem men paid Chou at least $169,000 for the fake Oakley sunglasses, then sold them over the Internet. Bachelder and McAfee were not available for comment.

Oakley sunglasses are known for their sleek, sporty look. The designer eyewear often retails for $100 or more.

"The differentiation is not rocket science between buying a real product and a counterfeit product," says Lance Allega of Oakley, Inc.

Sales of counterfeit products are a growing problem.

Monday, Chicago police seized 13,725 pairs of counterfeit Nike shoes. Officers arrested Chukwuemeka Ebelechukwu, who they claim was selling the knock-off Nikes to small local stores and individuals.

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"If it is a deal that seems too good to be true, it probably isn't true. If you are not buying it in a traditional retail setting, you are probably not getting the real thing," explains Bob Applegate of Nike. Both Nike and Oakley have investigators working to detect counterfeiting activity.